October 15 to 18, 2007

The more than 1,550 representatives of civil society, scientific organizations, national and municipal authorities, trade associations, indigenous peoples, universities, NGOs and students participating in the Latin Climate meeting present this document to Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, so that he can be the spokesman of this expression of the Latin American peoples. 

These proposals are a contribution to a Latin American Strategy for presentation at different events on Climate Change.

Messrs. Latin American and Caribbean Presidents, we trust in you; you hold the historic responsibility for helping avoid the greatest threat mankind has ever faced.  If we act together and immediately, we may be able to escape it.   

1.    It is obvious that the present development model based on unlimited economic growth is unviable and incompatible with the earth’s sustainability.  For that reason, it is the obligation of society as a whole and of its governments to define a new development model in which values that guarantee man’s comprehensive development and his harmonious relationship with nature predominate. 

2.   The earth’s climate-induced emergency calls for immediate action by both governments and civil society to design adaptation-oriented policies and strategies for climate change that take into consideration the particular and unique characteristics of different cities, regions and territories.  To this end, we suggest that the Forum of Latin American and Caribbean Environment Ministers establish an ongoing consultation mechanism with the technical support of the United Nations and regional cooperation agencies, among other organizations.    

3.   Those that pollute must pay.  We are all responsible, but some are more so than others.  The economically developed countries that are responsible for the lion’s share of emissions have the moral and ethical duty to comply fully with their international commitments to reduce greenhouse gases and to set up financial and technological transfer mechanisms to ensure the implementation of adaptation and mitigation strategies that will help safeguard natural resources and contribute to the harmonious and sustainable development of their societies.   

4.   Andean glaciers are rapidly melting, creating serious shortages of water for human, agricultural and energy use.  An emergency must be declared in these territories and the measures demanded by the scientific community implemented immediately.    

5.    Rich biodiversity is the hallmark of land and ocean ecosystems, which hold important coal reserves.  Latin America’s most vulnerable ecosystems today are the high moors, the high Andean, Amazon and dry forests and the coral reefs. It is necessary to reinforce scientific research and to design systems to follow up on the effects of climate change, as well as to take measures to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the ecosystems’ biodiversity and of the environmental services.   

6.   Millions of Latin American citizens suffer the consequences of climate change-induced natural disasters that are growing year-by-year.  Decision-making requires the reinforcement of climate observation and the training of professionals in this area.  Coordination of the existing disaster-prevention policy with climate change strategies is recommended in order to provide integral disaster risk prevention and management solutions.   

7.   Rainfall will be heavier and more frequent and unpredictable and droughts more extreme, raising the cost of supplies for human consumption, agricultural use and energy production.  Integral water use strategies should be developed that cover everything from its source and consumption to its final disposal and reutilization.   

8.   We fully support the proposal put forward by the government of Ecuador, known as ITT, whose aim is to ensure that the international community will reimburse the country for the resources the government will cease to receive by no longer producing oil in the Yasuní National Park, in order to preserve this invaluable national biological heritage.  This case should serve as an example to get developed countries to provide sufficient nonreimbursable resources in return for the benefits to man and in terms of climate stability produced by forest and biodiversity conservation.  With this incentive, the Latin American and Caribbean countries should commit themselves strongly to a significant reduction of their deforestation rates. A good case in point is Colombia’s national forest ranger families plan. 

9.    Public and private enterprises are fundamental actors in contending with global warming and for that reason it is essential to promote social and environmental responsibility initiatives within that sector. 

10.  The health sector representatives gathered at the Latin Climate meeting warn of the possibility of an increase in many diseases and the danger of epidemics like those transmitted by mosquitoes.  The Pan American Health Organization and the Hipólito Unanue Convention, among others of the region’s institutions, are hereby called upon to monitor the situation and to coordinate with health authorities to keep these dangers from materializing.   

11.  Scientists consider that rising sea levels threaten the existence of millions and will touch off the largest migration known to mankind, with catastrophic human, economic, social and environmental consequences.  Inasmuch as many of the populations that will be affected are located in Latin America, coastal municipalities and regions are recommended to work out strategies and set up environmental units immediately.    

12.  Education at all levels should be the principal tool used to raise citizen awareness of the global warming problem and promote a change in behavior in favor of integral human development in harmony with nature.   

13.  Indigenous communities possess great wealth in the form of ancestral knowledge that national governments and international organizations should value, protect and sponsor. The voice of these communities should be heard and their proposals included in local, national and regional climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.    

14.  Crops will shift, productivity will decline and new plagues will break out, endangering food security.  To counter this, agricultural planning must be based on land use planning and monitoring instruments and the appropriate utilization of modern and traditional technology to guarantee food production and sovereignty.  Agricultural policy should also take territorial vulnerability into account and ensure agricultural production.   

15.  Many Latin American and Caribbean municipal governments, like those of Guayaquil and Quito, have taken on a commitment to monitor their ecological footprint and to develop new clean transportation systems and emission and water quality control systems, undertake reforestation, and the like.  These examples should be promoted and implemented in all of the region’s municipalities.   

16.  The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects offer an opportunity to protect the environment and help reduce atmospheric damage.  It is necessary to build up the capacity of governments and of the corporate sector to formulate such projects, which must also be considered for the conservation of natural areas.  CDM resources should also be funneled into social development and the conservation of natural areas.   

17.  Biofuels have become globally strategic products.  Their impact can be either positive or negative, depending upon the type of crop involved, the technology used or each country’s distinguishing characteristics.  It is necessary to prepare economic, social and environmental sustainability indicators, as well as certification systems, and to promote public-private intersector dialogue.   

18.  Communications media have a great responsibility in this area.  They must establish special sections and programs dealing with climate change and carefully review all policies and messages that promote consumerism, which is the direct cause of irrational and unlimited economic growth.  It is essential to guide readers and listeners toward the construction of a society that is more just, responsible and respectful of the environment.     

19.  All countries and international financing sources should give priority to financing and promoting alternative energy sources. It is also necessary to ask the international community to transfer technology in this field free of charge.   

20.  The participants in the Latin Climate meeting hail the presence of outstanding spiritual leaders from different parts of the world, as well as of the shamans, amautas and indigenous leaders who have brought with them a message of peace and spiritual development in order to propose a radical change in attitude so that it is understood that the Earth does not belong to Man, but that Man belongs to the Earth. 

21.  We deem it urgently necessary for Latin American governments, the Andean Community, the United Nations and all of the institutions that are participating in this event to set up a committee to ensure that a Latin Climate meeting is held in each of the region’s countries.    

We congratulate all of the organizations and people who have made possible this forum for the discussion, analysis and exchange of experiences and visions and the communications media that have done their utmost to ensure the success of the Latin Climate meeting.